CONSITUTIONAL FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES. – A CROSS-CASE ANALYSIS OF BAHA’I AND CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ISLAMABAD”

Abstract

The minority communities of Pakistan have long been a victim of religious intolerance and social bigotry, often manifested in violent forms. This resultantly not only damaged the religious diversity and social fabric of the country, but also earned it international infamy. This research aims to explore the ground realities of minority communities living in Pakistan, and the issues they face in their everyday lives, including those less violent and so unreported. It is done by studying the communities’ access to the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of 1973 of Pakistan for all citizens indiscriminately. The minorities under study are the Baha’i and the Christian communities dwelling in Islamabad Capital Territory. A qualitative case study approach is taken based on Critical Theory, with data collected through in-depth interviews of twenty participants, and analyzed using With-in case and Cross-case analysis. The results of the study show that the communities do not raise any major complaints against presence of biases in the legal framework, and the government is either termed as supportive or in some cases helpless itself. Most discriminatory and marginalizing behavior directed towards the minorities roots from the society and individual level prejudices. The most contested right remains that of freedom of speech, while many complain about lack of due representation in media. The role of education in countering anti-minority sentiment has been highlighted by many. The two communities, Baha’is and Christians, differ greatly in their characteristics, and so in their experiences, however together they present a wide range of issues faced by the religious minorities of Pakistan. These results can help the state direct its policies towards creation of a more inclusive country and more tolerant society. This research is significant as instead of relying on statistical evidence to highlight the plight of minorities, its voices the vulnerable groups themselves to share their lives in their own words.